Bracket Munching Time!

The greatest sporting event of the year is here! Selection Sunday has come, and I must say the committee did a tremendous job putting the field together. I thought the only teams that should not have made it were Arizona and Baylor. I would have put Virginia Tech and Dayton in instead.

However, no one can really gripe this year because many bubble teams did not step up this year. There were no Syracuse snubs like last year. Other than that, my only other concern was the weakness of the West region. It is perhaps the easiest road for a #1 seed that I have ever seen.

After munching on the brackets for a day its time to breakdown each region and pick a National Champion:

East
Region Strength: 1
Sleeper: Indiana
Overrated: Washington State
1st Round Upset? (12+): #13 Winthrop
Best Possible Matchup: Regional Final-North Carolina/Tennessee
Player to Watch: Tyler Hansbrough
Winner: North Carolina

South
Region Strength: 3
Sleeper: USC
Overrated: Michigan State
1st Round Upset? (12+): #12 Temple
Best Possible Matchup: Regional Semifinal-Memphis/Pittsburgh
Player to Watch: D.J. Augustin
Winner: Texas

Midwest
Region Strength: 2
Sleeper: Clemson/Davidson
Overrated: Georgetown
1st Round Upset? (12+): None
Best Possible Matchup: Regional Semifinal-Kansas/Clemson
Player to Watch: Stephen Curry
Winner: Clemson

West
Region Strength: Distant 4
Sleeper: West Virginia
Overrated: Duke
1st Round Upset? (12+): #14 Georgia
Best Possible Matchup: Regional Final-UCLA/Duke
Player to Watch: Kevin Love
Winner: UCLA

Final Four
National Champion: UCLA
Most Outstanding Player: Kevin Love

Pat Morgan